Abstract: A toner cartridge according to one example embodiment includes a housing having a front, rear, first side, second side, top and bottom forming a toner reservoir. An outlet port is positioned on the front of the housing proximate the first side for transferring toner out of the reservoir. A drive gear is positioned on the front of the housing and has a center proximate the second side for receiving rotational power. A cavity is formed in the bottom of the housing. A latch catch is positioned in the cavity on an inner side of the front of the housing for receiving a latch for securing the toner cartridge in an image forming device. The latch catch is positioned closer to the bottom of the housing than the outlet port and the drive gear and between the center of the drive gear and the outlet port in the side-to-side direction.

Abstract: A carriage assembly for an image forming device according to one example embodiment includes a plurality of cradles mounted on a base. Each cradle has a cartridge storage area sized to receive and hold a corresponding toner cartridge. Each of the cradles is independently pivotable between a loading position for loading and unloading the toner cartridge into and out of the cradle and an operating position for operating the toner cartridge in the image forming device. Each of the cradles is biased toward the loading position. A latch assembly is configured to retain the cradles holding the corresponding toner cartridges in the operating position. The latch assembly has user-actuated engagement features for individually releasing the cradles from the operating position to the loading position for unloading the corresponding toner cartridge.

Abstract: A toner cartridge for use with a developer unit of an image forming device includes a housing having a front, a rear, a top, a bottom, a first side and a second side. The housing has a reservoir for holding toner. An outlet port is positioned on the housing for transferring toner from the reservoir to the developer unit. An alignment slot on the front of the housing is open at a bottom end of the alignment slot to receive an alignment pin of the developer unit. The alignment slot has a width that narrows from the bottom end of the alignment slot to a middle section of the slot and that widens from the middle section of the alignment slot to a top end of the alignment slot.

Abstract: A toner cartridge according to one example embodiment includes an outlet port positioned on the front of a housing for transferring toner from a reservoir to a developer unit. The toner cartridge includes an engagement member having a first engagement surface and a second engagement surface. The first engagement surface is positioned proximate the rear of the housing to receive an actuation force from an actuation feature of an image forming device. The second engagement surface is positioned proximate the front of the housing below the outlet port to engage a shutter on an inlet port of the developer unit. The engagement member is movable from a first position to a second position upon receiving the actuation force. As the engagement member moves from the first position to the second position, the second engagement surface protrudes from the front of the housing to engage the shutter of the developer unit.

Abstract: A toner cartridge for use with a developer unit of an image forming device according to one example embodiment includes a housing having a front, a rear, a top, a bottom, a first side and a second side. The housing has a reservoir for holding toner. An outlet port is positioned on the housing for transferring toner from the reservoir to the developer unit. An alignment slot on the front of the housing is open at a bottom end of the alignment slot to receive an alignment pin of the developer unit. The alignment slot has a width that narrows from the bottom end of the alignment slot to a middle section of the slot and that widens from the middle section of the alignment slot to a top end of the alignment slot.

Abstract: A carriage assembly according to one example embodiment includes a cradle pivotably mounted on a base. The cradle has a cartridge storage area sized to receive and hold a toner cartridge. The cradle is pivotable between a loading position for loading and unloading the toner cartridge and an operating position for operating the toner cartridge. A hold-down feature is mounted on the base adjacent to the cradle in a substantially stationary position relative to the cradle movement. When the cradle is in the loading position, the hold-down feature is positioned clear of an insertion and removal path of the toner cartridge into and out of the cradle and, as the cradle moves toward the operating position and when the cradle is in the operating position, the hold-down feature is positioned to engage a stop on the toner cartridge to prevent the toner cartridge from separating from the cradle.

Abstract: A toner cartridge according to one example embodiment includes a housing having a front, rear, first side, second side, top and bottom forming a toner reservoir. An outlet port is positioned on the front of the housing proximate the first side for transferring toner out of the reservoir. A drive gear is positioned on the front of the housing and has a center proximate the second side for receiving rotational power. A cavity is formed in the bottom of the housing. A latch catch is positioned in the cavity on an inner side of the front of the housing for receiving a latch for securing the toner cartridge in an image forming device. The latch catch is positioned closer to the bottom of the housing than the outlet port and the drive gear and between the center of the drive gear and the outlet port in the side-to-side direction.

Abstract: A carriage assembly for an image forming device according to one example embodiment includes a plurality of cradles mounted on a base. Each cradle has a cartridge storage area sized to receive and hold a corresponding toner cartridge. Each of the cradles is independently pivotable between a loading position for loading and unloading the toner cartridge into and out of the cradle and an operating position for operating the toner cartridge in the image forming device. Each of the cradles is biased toward the loading position. A latch assembly is configured to retain the cradles holding the corresponding toner cartridges in the operating position. The latch assembly has user-actuated engagement features for individually releasing the cradles from the operating position to the loading position for unloading the corresponding toner cartridge.

Abstract: A toner cartridge according to one example embodiment includes an outlet port positioned on the front of a housing for transferring toner from a reservoir to a developer unit. The toner cartridge includes an engagement member having a first engagement surface and a second engagement surface. The first engagement surface is positioned proximate the rear of the housing to receive an actuation force from an actuation feature of an image forming device. The second engagement surface is positioned proximate the front of the housing below the outlet port to engage a shutter on an inlet port of the developer unit. The engagement member is movable from a first position to a second position upon receiving the actuation force. As the engagement member moves from the first position to the second position, the second engagement surface protrudes from the front of the housing to engage the shutter of the developer unit.

Abstract: A toner system according to one example includes a developer unit and a toner cartridge. The developer unit includes a toner reservoir, an inlet port and a shutter. The toner cartridge includes a toner reservoir, an outlet port and an engagement member having a first engagement surface and a second engagement surface. The first engagement surface is positioned to receive an actuation force from a feature of an image forming device. The second engagement surface is positioned proximate the outlet port to engage the shutter of the developer unit. The engagement member is movable from a first position to a second position upon receiving the actuation force. As the engagement member moves from the first position to the second position when the toner cartridge is mated with the developer unit, the second engagement surface protrudes from the front of the toner cartridge and opens the shutter of the developer unit.

Abstract: A pump for pumping fluid using peristaltic compression. The pump includes a rotor and a roller. The rotor includes a first cam that extends along a circumferential direction relative to the rotor. The first cam has first and second dwells. The roller is movable relative to the rotor between the first dwell and the second dwell of the first cam as the rotor rotates in a first direction and a second direction. The rotor includes a second cam extending radially from its shaft for engaging the roller. Contact between the second cam and the roller increases frictional resistance between the rotor and the roller as the roller translates between the first and second dwells of the first cam such that the roller transitions between the first and second dwells without slipping.

Abstract: A fluid height backpressure system includes a printhead, a fluid supply tank, a backpressure device, and an air removal device. The backpressure device responsible for supplying system backpressure includes at least one tower disposed in an upright position and having a plurality of walls defining first and second chambers for respectively communicating with the ink supply tank and a fluid supply reservoir of the printhead. The air removal device provides additional back pressure in the second chamber, allows backpressure in the system to be maintained even with an empty fluid supply tank, and also supply of ink to the fluid supply reservoir of the printhead substantially without air bubbles being introduced therein. Also, ink sensors are utilized for sensing out-of-ink/ink-low conditions and also to help establish and continue the operation of the backpressure device.

Abstract: A fluid height backpressure system includes a printhead, a fluid supply tank, a backpressure device, and an air removal device. The backpressure device responsible for supplying system backpressure includes at least one tower disposed in an upright position and having a plurality of walls defining first and second chambers for respectively communicating with the ink supply tank and a fluid supply reservoir of the printhead. The air removal device provides additional backpressure in the second chamber, allows backpressure in the system to be maintained even with an empty fluid supply tank, and also supply of ink to the fluid supply reservoir of the printhead substantially without air bubbles being introduced therein. Also, ink sensors are utilized for sensing different levels of ink in the ink supply tank and out-of-ink/ink-low conditions in the backpressure device and also to help establish and continue the operation of the backpressure device.

Abstract: A fluid height backpressure system includes a printhead, a fluid supply tank, a backpressure device, and an air removal device. The backpressure device responsible for supplying system backpressure includes a tower disposed in an upright position and having a plurality of walls defining first and second chambers for respectively communicating with the ink supply tank and a fluid supply reservoir of the printhead. The air removal device provides additional backpressure in the second chamber, allows backpressure in the system to be maintained even with an empty fluid supply tank, and also supply of ink to the fluid supply reservoir of the printhead substantially without air bubbles being introduced therein. Also, ink sensors are utilized for sensing out-of-ink/ink-low conditions and also to help establish and continue the operation of the backpressure device.

Abstract: A fluid height backpressure system includes a printhead, a fluid supply tank, a backpressure device, and an air removal device. The backpressure device responsible for supplying system backpressure includes at least one tower disposed in an upright position and having a plurality of walls defining first and second chambers for respectively communicating with the ink supply tank and a fluid supply reservoir of the printhead. The air removal device provides additional backpressure in the second chamber, allows backpressure in the system to be maintained even with an empty fluid supply tank, and also supply of ink to the fluid supply reservoir of the printhead substantially without air bubbles being introduced therein. Also, ink sensors are utilized for sensing different levels of ink in the ink supply tank and out-of-ink/ink-low conditions in the backpressure device and also to help establish and continue the operation of the backpressure device.

Abstract: A fluid height backpressure system includes a printhead, a fluid supply tank, a backpressure device, and an air removal device. The backpressure device responsible for supplying system backpressure includes at least one tower disposed in an upright position and having a plurality of walls defining first and second chambers for respectively communicating with the ink supply tank and a fluid supply reservoir of the printhead. The air removal device provides additional back pressure in the second chamber, allows backpressure in the system to be maintained even with an empty fluid supply tank, and also supply of ink to the fluid supply reservoir of the printhead substantially without air bubbles being introduced therein. Also, ink sensors are utilized for sensing out-of-ink/ink-low conditions and also to help establish and continue the operation of the backpressure device.

Abstract: A fluid height backpressure system includes a printhead, a fluid supply tank, a backpressure device, and an air removal device. The backpressure device responsible for supplying system backpressure includes a tower disposed in an upright position and having a plurality of walls defining first and second chambers for respectively communicating with the ink supply tank and a fluid supply reservoir of the printhead. The air removal device provides additional backpressure in the second chamber, allows backpressure in the system to be maintained even with an empty fluid supply tank, and also supply of ink to the fluid supply reservoir of the printhead substantially without air bubbles being introduced therein Also, ink sensors are utilized for sensing out-of-ink/ink-low conditions and also to help establish and continue the operation of the backpressure device.

Abstract: A method of printing multiple swaths with a hand-operated printer having a target sight includes printing at least one alignment mark for a subsequent print swath during a printing of a current print swath; and aligning the target sight with the alignment mark prior to beginning printing of the subsequent print swath.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a printhead carrier configured for mounting a printhead cartridge and a cam rotatably coupled to the printhead carrier, the cam having a cam surface positioned opposite the datum pad, the cam surface being positioned for direct contact with the datum pad. A rotation of the cam causes the cam surface to translate the printhead along the media feed direction.

Abstract: Method of printing from a printer, where the printer includes one or more maintenance firings from a printhead nozzle. Formatting a print job to be printed in determining which nozzles on a printhead require maintenance during printing of the print job. Modifying the formatted print job to include one or more maintenance firings for the nozzles requiring maintenance.